February 2015 COA Decisions

Council on Social Work Education - Commission on Accreditation

Notice of Accreditation Actions - February 2015

Accrediting agencies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation are required to notify the public of the basis for final accreditation decisions. The Commission on Accreditation (COA) meets this requirement by publishing a notice of accreditation actions on its website after each Commission meeting. COA meetings take place three times a year, in February, June, and October/November.

The Commission on Accreditation (COA) took the following actions at its February 2015 meeting regarding the social work programs sponsored by the institutions listed below. Actions taken below are listed by decision category. Standards referenced in this report can be reviewed in our 2008 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

Reaffirm Accreditation for 8 Years

The COA finds the program in compliance with all educational policy and accreditation standards and the program was granted continued accreditation for 8 years.

Baccalaureate

Albany State University (GA)

Campbell University (NC)

Chatham University (PA)

Illinois State University (IL)

Oakland University (MI)

Oglala Lakota College (SD)

Radford University (VA)

University of Louisville (KY)

Master’s

DePaul University (IL)

Illinois State University (IL)

Newman University (KS)

Touro College (NY)

Reaffirm Accreditation for 8 Years with a Progress Report

The COA finds the program in compliance with all educational policy and accreditation standards, but identifies one or more areas of concern that must be addressed in a progress report. The program was granted continued accreditation for 8 years, with a progress report to be submitted within 1 year.

Baccalaureate

Abilene Christian University (TX), based on Field and Assessment

Loyola University Chicago (IL), based on Curriculum

Philander Smith College (AR), based on Assessment

St. Cloud State University (MN), based on Assessment

Temple University (PA), based on Mission and Goals and Advisement, Retention, and Termination

Wheelock College (MA), based on Resources

Master’s

Abilene Christian University (TX), based on Field

California State University, Dominguez Hills (CA), based on Assessment

California State University, Fullerton (CA), based on Curriculum, Field, and Assessment

Loyola University Chicago (IL), based on Assessment

Radford University (VA), based on Assessment

St. Cloud State University (MN), based on Field and Assessment

Temple University (PA), based on Mission and Goals and Advisement, Retention, and Termination

University of Texas-Pan American (TX), based on Curriculum, Admissions, and Assessment

Wheelock College (MA), based on Faculty, Administration, and Resources

Defer a Decision on Reaffirmation of Accreditation to the Next Meeting and Request Clarifying Information

The COA decides to defer a decision when the program’s documentation is insufficient to make a decision. A deferral is for one meeting only. Before the next commission meeting the program is expected to submit the documentation or clarification necessary for the COA to make a decision.

Baccalaureate

College at Fredonia, State University of New York (NY), based on Mission and Goals and Faculty

University of Texas-Pan American (TX), based on Curriculum and Assessment

Grant Candidacy Status

The COA finds that the program is in compliance with Benchmark I and grants the program candidacy status. The decision letter instructs the program to prepare Benchmark II in preparation for its Commissioner Visit II.

Baccalaureate

Brandman University (CA)

Central State University (OH)

Colorado Mesa University (CO)

Hunter College, City University of New York (NY)

Texas A&M University-Central Texas (TX)

Warner Pacific College (OR)

Master's

Clarke University (IA)

College of Staten Island (NY)

George Fox University (OR)

Pacific University (OR)

Defer Decision on Candidacy and Request Clarifying Information

The COA decides to defer a decision when the program’s documentation is insufficient to make a decision. A deferral is for one meeting only. Before the next commission meeting the program is expected to submit the documentation or clarification necessary for the COA to make a decision.

Baccalaureate

University of Minnesota-Duluth (MN), based on Administrative Structure

Grant a Second Year of Candidacy

The COA finds that the program is in compliance with Benchmark II and grants the program a second year in candidacy. The decision letter instructs the program to prepare Benchmark III in preparation for its Commissioner Visit III.

Baccalaureate

Belhaven University (MS)

Lancaster Bible College (PA)

Master's

Erikson Institute (IL)

Johnson C. Smith University (NC)

Park University (MO)

Spring Arbor University (MI)

Troy University (AL)

Defer Decision on Second Year of Candidacy and Request Clarifying Information

The COA decides to defer a decision when the program’s documentation is insufficient to make a decision. A deferral is for one meeting only. Before the next commission meeting the program is expected to submit the documentation or clarification necessary for the COA to make a decision.

Master's

Quinnipiac University (CT), based on Resources

Grant a Third Year of Candidacy

The COA finds that the program is in compliance with Benchmark III and grants the program a third year in candidacy. The decision letter instructs the program to prepare Benchmark IV in preparation for its Commissioner Visit IV.

Baccalaureate

North Central University (MN)

Grant Initial Accreditation for 4 Years

The COA finds the program in compliance with all accreditation standards and educational policy and grants accreditation for 4 years.

Baccalaureate

Fayetteville State University (NC)

Sojourner-Douglass College (MD)

Master's

Universidad del Este (PR)

Defer Decision on Initial Accreditation

The COA decides to defer a decision when the program’s documentation is insufficient to make a decision. A deferral is for one meeting only. Before the next commission meeting the program is expected to submit the documentation or clarification necessary for the COA to make a decision.

Baccalaureate

West Liberty University (WV), based on Assessment

Accept First Progress Report

All areas of concern were addressed in the progress report, and no further action by the program is required.

Baccalaureate

Albany State University (GA)

Bethany College (WV)

Goshen College (IN)

Huntington University (IN)

Lincoln University (MO)

Millersville University of Pennsylvania and Shippensburg University Collaborative (PA)

Viterbo University (WI)

Master's

Albany State University (GA)

Receive First Progress Report and Request a Second Progress Report

COA finds that one or more of the concerns in the first progress report are still areas of concern and requests a second progress report to be submitted within 1 year. The COA’ s letter identifies specific areas of concern and a due date for the progress report. If the second progress report is not accepted, the program is automatically placed on conditional accreditation.

Baccalaureate

Livingstone College (NC), based on Assessment

Accept Second Progress Report

All areas of concern were addressed in the progress report, and no further action by the program is required.

Baccalaureate

Bluffton University (OH)

Loras College (IA)

Niagara University (NY)

Master’s

University of Oklahoma (OK)

Issue a Letter of Instructions to the Site Visitor(s)

A Letter of Instructions is provided to the site visitor(s) and program specifying Accreditation Standards which the visitor is instructed to address.